Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:54 pm
In the fall, many people hang tit dumplings in the garden. Providing food for the native birds is now even useful all year round.
Robins, sparrows, sparrows and Co. love to eat tit dumplings. But not only the native birds have taken a liking to tit dumplings, squirrels also have it in for the energy-rich food.
What you can do to keep squirrels away from your birdhouse and garden, and whether squirrels are even dangerous to birds, you will learn in this article.
Let’s go!
Contents
Do squirrels really eat tit dumplings?
Yes, squirrels really eat tit dumplings.
Before the onset of winter, you can see tit dumplings hung from trees in many gardens. Tit dumplings have also become popular bird food on balconies, along with nuts.
This is a welcome invitation for domestic peepers to help themselves to the tasty food.
Squirrels also enjoy it and steal tit dumplings from the birdhouse.
That you unintentionally feed squirrels instead of just birds, you certainly would not have thought.
Squirrels, as squirrels are also called, are a real competition for our wild birds when it comes to food.
How to protect bird house from squirrels?
In this section, I will introduce you 6 tricks to effectively protect your bird house from squirrels.
- build a squirrel-proof bird house
Did you know that there are smart birdhouses that weigh the weight of each animal as it enters the birdhouse, allowing only birds to enter?
Amazing, but true!
Otherwise, prefer enclosed dumpling holders that secure titmouse dumplings in a protective cage or feeder. That way, not a single squirrel will get to the winter food.
The Squirrel Buster bird feeder* is a squirrel-proof bird house with more than 900 positive reviews.
- offer food that squirrels avoid
Squirrels won’t eat all birdseed by a long shot. Switch from tit dumplings to millet and canola, and your birdhouse is less likely to be visited by squirrels.
Canary seed and safflower are also suitable bird foods for our native wild birds, which squirrels tend to disdain.
However, if the winter is very hard and the squirrel’s supply of nuts is exhausted, it will also eat birdseed, which it otherwise does not like.
- mix peppers in bird food
Use peppers in dried form in your bird food. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the form of paprika flakes, paprika spice powder hot or sweet, or paprika seeds – it works either way.
Squirrels will avoid paprika if they taste it in their bird food.
It is not advisable to use chili spice powder and hot peppers, because chili as well as hot peppers can irritate the respiratory tract and eyes. After all, we only want to drive the squirrel away, but not hurt it.
In addition, the hot spice is excreted through bird droppings and spread in the environment, which can cause further harm to animals and plants.
- prevent squirrels from getting to the bird house.
If you put up posts or poles as obstacles, you can keep squirrels and other wildlife from getting to the bird feeder.
The poles and posts should be installed at least 10 feet away from fences and trees, as all of these things invite squirrels to climb and jump from them to the feeder.
The posts you put in should be at least 5 feet tall. Install the post in the ground using a ground socket. You can screw the bird feeder onto the post.
Install so-called marten repellent belts* on the post, these prevent squirrels and other animal visitors from climbing up.
- trap squirrels
If you catch a squirrel, which has made itself comfortable in your garden because of the bird food, you have peace.
Live traps loaded with nuts are a good way to catch squirrels. The Defender animal trap* is excellent for this purpose.
Once you have caught the squirrel, take it to a wooded area a few kilometers from your home.
If you don’t, it will quickly return! There it will feel comfortable among the many trees and find a new home.
- set up a dedicated feeding area for squirrels.
Instead of chasing squirrels away, offer them food specifically. By establishing a squirrel food plot, you control them better.
Provide them with corn, nuts and other treats. Squirrels love this food!
Plus, the adorable squirrels are really pretty to look at. Don’t you think so?
A squirrel is tampering with a birdhouse. The tit dumplings are next.
Can squirrels destroy birdhouses?
Yes, squirrels can destroy birdhouses.
If their way to the birdseed is blocked, they will nibble and gnaw at the wooden or plastic birdhouse until they get to the birdseed and tit dumplings.
You can certainly imagine what the birdhouse looks like after such an attack. It will be badly damaged.
To prevent your bird house from being damaged by hungry squirrels, there should always be enough birdseed available. If the bird feeder is always well filled, the wild animals will spare your bird feeder.
When buying a bird feeder, also make sure that it has good workmanship. Quality pays off here as well. Metal hatches on the bird feeder are another advantage. These cannot be gnawed on and destroyed by squirrels.
Open bird feeders are generally preferable. The birdseed is offered to the wild animals virtually on a tray, so no damage can occur.
How to keep squirrels away from the property?
Ultrasonic repellent against squirrels
You can keep squirrels away from the ground by using ultrasonic emitters. Insert ultrasonic emitters into the garden soil.
They are easily solar powered and emit sound waves that irritate squirrels’ senses. However, the sound waves are not perceptible to us humans.
The VOSS.sonic 2000 ultrasonic repellent with solar* is a good choice. The distributor is produced in Europe and has over 1200 positive reviews.
Spray against squirrels near the bird house.
Squirrel repellent spray without DEET* also keeps squirrels away from the birdhouse. Just apply the spray near the birdhouse and you’re done.
Trim back trees near the birdhouse.
Also, be sure to trim back your trees regularly so squirrels can’t get to the birdhouse or into your home. Squirrels are excellent climbers and jumpers and will know how to use the branches of your trees!
Once a squirrel has made itself at home in your garden, it will be hard to get rid of it! Promise!
What do squirrels not like?
If you plant your property line with certain flowers, squirrels will avoid your garden. This is because wild animals like squirrels are excellent at being driven away by scent.
For example, nasturtiums and marigolds are plants that smell terrible to squirrels.
How do squirrels find a bird feeder?
These diurnal animals are constantly on the lookout for food. They are mainly in parks and wooded areas, feeding on nuts, seeds and small animals.
If there is a strong frost and the food supply is running low, the squirrels are also on the move in front gardens and discover bird houses filled with food.
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels love to eat nuts and seeds from trees. Hazelnuts and walnuts are a favorite food for squirrels. Even pinecones and the seeds of spruce are on their menu.
Fruits and mushrooms are also a favorite food source. On trees, they prefer young shoots and buds. Even the bark is eaten.